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Need advice about sheet mulching
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Posted by EdenWest Sunset23 (My Page) on Sun, May 1, 05 at 23:32
| Hi there!
I am mainly wondering if it is always necessary to put down a layer of newspapers or cardboard or whatnot before you start putting down mulch. I am hoping to hook up with a source of free mulch that will just come and dump stuff in my front yard for me to spread around. There are many areas where I could just spread 6-8 inches of mulch and just leave it undisturbed for a LOOOOONNNGGG time (maybe plant some trees again next fall). That would smother any weeds and grass, right? And the seeds wouldn't germinate unless the area is disturbed? I plan to do the newspaper thing in areas I will be using for annual plantings (vegetables), but in areas that are mainly going to be trees and pathways, can I just spread the mulch real thick and leave it be?
Also, what are your favourite odd things to add to the mulch? I have read shredded paper (any paper?), is there anything else that may be available around that people don't usually think of?
Thanks!
Jeanne |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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| Sayin' yo, The purpose of the paper is to make a barrier the weeds cannot grow through. Although the mulch, compost, whatever, can do the same thing if it is thick enough, some of your tougher, hardier weeds will be able to not only break through, but thanks to all of your hard work, will have a wonderful soil in which to thrive. To sum up, you don't have to put down paper, but it is a good idea.
Ken |
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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| And if you're not going to mess with it for a while (like a year, or less), cardboard would be even better. Check out your local furniture stores. Sue |
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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| hey all, large, informative topic on sheet mulching here:
http://forums (dot) permaculture (dot) org (dot) au / viewtopic.php?t=439 replace (dot) with a . and take out all spaces. i tried to put the URL in there, but gardenweb thinks i'm spamming. what the hell? why are these guys so scared of people sharing information that they've built such a huge damn wall around themselves???? that's not what this is all about. |
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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| I have sheet mulched with and without cardboard and am now fully behind using a base of carboard or newspaper. In the beds that I did not use cardboard or newpaper, grass is coming through very thick layers of mulch. Not enough to cause me much frustration, but I do notice some sprouting through. In places that I did use cardboard of newspaper, there are no weeds, and in many places the paper has totally broken down into lovely soil, all in less than a year. The cardboard smothers and composts the weeds quickly and for some reason worms like sheet mulch with paper better than without paper. In every place that I have laid down a paper product seems to florish with worms. Paper is like a magnet for worms. As for what I use in my sheet mulch...anything I can get my hands on. I have had success with straw, pine needles, shredded paper, food scraps, anything. I have even used bags of citrus peels from the local grocery stores waste pile and covered them with a bit of straw and within a couple of months they are "melting" into the soil. Ignore the folks that warn you not to compost certain materials. I find that any organic material composts just the same. Enjoy,
josh |
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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I don't know how rural you are but if this is an area that could be let go wild let it do so. If want trees there plant 'em and let the rest go wild. Let succesion do the work for you.
My place in Ms. was once hard pan clay from years of over discing for use as a cow field. No top soil and hard as a rock. Now after several years of first wildflowers (weeds if you must), bushes (thank ya Lord for the wax myrtle!) and now a mix of trees the soil is loose and a rich black.
Use that wonderful free mulch close in to your house for bed development. Let nature work for you on the back 40.
Mike |
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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Do use cardboard or paper, lots of paper. I didn't. I piled up lots of compostable stuff over liriope without covering the liriope. I think I'll be paying for that error for a loooong time, since I've merely created a heavenly environment for the very plant I was trying to kill.
Suggestions will be most appreciated! |
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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| I used 4 or 5 layers of newspaper in a small area of my garden about 3 or 4 years ago. I am now just getting some weeds. The newspaper did not break down. I can pull out a piece and read it. I am wondering why it did not break down. This stumped some master gardeners I met a sheet mulching class. I just removed 100 sq. ft. with a spading fork. Great workout. I will be using cardboard this time. |
RE: Need advice about sheet mulching
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| Twister 9, lack of breakdown of paper or cardboard usually seems to mean that the soil is too dry underneath (you should wet it well before you lay down the paper), or there aren't many soil microbes in your topsoil to do the breaking down. If the area was heavily contaminated with chemicals, that could be the reason. Microbes also need plant material to eat or they die off. If you want to try again, wet the soil thoroughly to several inches deep, import some quality homemade compost that hasn't dried out (maybe from a friend?) to inoculate the area with microorganisms, lay some lawn cuttings or weeds over the surface (food), then lay your paper or cardboard down and cover it with mulch. It's like making soup -- you need the ingredients; you can't just put a pot of water on the stove and heat it up and expect chicken/vegetable soup. Sue |
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